Chap. I. to the Levan t. 805 
Signiors that is the Source of their Subjec 5 ls Miferies 
and their own Misfortunes, but the Want of that Power 
in proper Hands, the Ihifting Minifters continually, run- 
nino- from one Syftem of Affairs to another, not as the 
Situation of Things direffs, but as the Intrigues and 
Fadions in the Seraglio compel; and though the Mi- 
nifters, and fometimes their Matters fuffer, the Eun- 
uchs and the Women are generally in Fault. 
Timid Princes are commonly governed by thefe Sort 
of People ; they liften to Whifpers in their Clofets, and 
hold their Councils in their Bed-Chambers. Their Di- 
vans^ where the Affairs of the Empire ought to be 
tranfaffed, into which only Men of Bufinels are ad- 
mitted, become Things of Courfe, and the Grand 
Signior gives his Orders where he ought to confult 
what Orders Ihould be given. It is departing from the 
Genius of the Ottoman Empire that has funk it into that 
low Condition that we fee it at prefen t, and what has 
happened in T^urky^ will happen every where ; for in all 
Climates, and in all Ages, the fame Caufes will produce 
the fame Effe6ts. A Government founded as that of 
ih^^urks is, in Military Virtues and the Adminiftration 
of the Government by a fingle Perfon, muft crumble 
by its own W^eight, where thole Virtues and that Ca- 
pacity, which are effentially nccelTary to dired it, are 
wanting. 
Governments founded upon better and more rational 
Principles, fuch as Juftice, Liberty, and perpetual Re- 
gard to the publick Good, will decay more flowly ; but 
will infallibly decay, when thofe Virtues are loft in fac* 
tious Contentions for Power, Contempt of the So- 
vereign Authority, and Difregard of publick Happi- 
nefs, from the mean and pitiful Ambition of raifing 
private Fortunes. But we have wanderM too far from 
the Bufmefs of this Sedion, and into Refledions that can- 
not perhaps be purfued to the general Satisfadion of our 
Readers. Therefore we will here put an End to ouf 
Remarks, and return to the Obfervations of Mr. The-^ 
venot^ which will make the Reader Amends for this 
fhort political Digreflion, by leading him again into 
the flowry Paths of Amufement. Yet, why do we tra- 
vel through every Part of the World but to knov/ it ? 
Or, what have we to do with the Cuftoms, Manners 
and Policy of the Turks, if not to improve ourfelves, by 
confidering the Miftakes, and the Confequences of thofe 
Millakes in other Nations This is, or at leaft this 
ought to be, the End of Reading and of Writing. 
SECTION II. 
Containing an Account of the Cuftoms and Manners of the Turks, 
their Learning and Religion, the Form of their Government, their 
Forces by Sea and Land ; as alfo an Account of the Chriftians and 
yews, inhabiting Countries, that are fubjed to the Grand Signior, 
Taken chiefly from the Travels of Mr. John Thevenot ; interfperfed with many cu- 
rious, ufeful and entertaining Particulars, extraded from the Works of other emi- 
nent Authors. 
1. Of the Perfons oj the Turks, the Manner of their Dr effing amongjl mrious Ranks of People, efpecU 
ally among ft the Janizaries. 2. The Manner of their eating and drinking, preparing their Vidhials, 
and by nsohat Explications they fo far fatisfy themfehes, as to drink Wine upon Occafion. 3 . Of the 
Language and Learning of the Turks, and of their Fondnefs for AJirology. 4. The Religion of this 
Nation, the Author's Account of Mohammed the Greek Writers, and other Particulars. 5. Their 
Praying for the Dead, and the Reafon of it ; their Notions of ^ a juture State, and of the Happinefs 
of the Blejed, and Mifery of damned Spirits, with their DoSirine of univerfal Redemption. 6 . Of the 
Ceremony of Circumcifion, the Time when, and Manner in which it is perform'd. 7. Of the Manner 
of keeping their Ramadan or Lent, and of their Peaft of Bairam or Eafter ; their Extravagance and 
Folly at that Seafon, and the great Rifque Chriftians run by appearing in Publick at that Time. 8. Their 
Ablutions or ceremonious Wajldings, and publick and private Prayers, and the Manner of Preaching in 
their Mofques. 9, Of the charitable Difpofetion of the Turks, and of their Readinefs to forgive each 
other, and to avoid long Enmity and hafty parrels. 10. Their Pilgrimages to Mecca, and other Pre- 
cepts of their Religion, ii. Off the Turkifh Clergy \ their Offices, Credit, and Power, and of their 
Derviles or Monks. 12. Of the fever al Kinds of Marriages praBifed amonghl them, and off their Di- 
vorces. 13. Slavery am.ongji the Turks not near fo grievous as it is generally reprefented, fo that fame 
Slaves have refufed Freedom. 14. The Manner in which the Turkifh Women pafs their Time, and the 
Cafes in which they are entitled to be divorced from their Husbands. 15. Their Cufloms in burying the 
T)ead, their Mourning ^ and Praying for them. 16. The Virtues and Vices off the Turks, their good 
and bad ^alities very impartially fated. 17. The unlimited Power off the Grand Signior, upon what 
Principle founded, and how exerted. 18. Of the Office of Yizitv Azem, the Viziers of the Bench, and 
other Officers and Governors, icy. The Manner in which fuftice is adminifer'd in /160 Divan, and 
within the Provinces. 20. The great Care taken to preferve Peace and Plenty in the Capital, and other 
great Cities on the Empire. 21. Of the Money current i?iT\A&sy,and of the Weights ufed inf rade there. 
22. Of the Punijhments in Uffe in Turkey, ''both ff or Men and Women. 23. Off' the Military Eftablijh-^. 
ment and diferent Sorts of Troops employ'd in the Grand Signior' s Army. 24. Of the Manner in which 
his Forces are raifed, and the Funds appointed for their Maintenance. 25. Of their Naval Affairs 
and the Reafon of their being in fo indifferent a Condition. 26. Of the Greek Chriftians that live in 
the Dominions, and are the SubjeSis off' the Grand Signior. 27. Of the Armenians, and the Difference 
of their Faith from that of the Greek Church. 28. Of the feveral Orders of Greek Monks, and their 
Manner of living. 29. Of the ref of the Greek Clergy, and their Infuence over the People of their 
Communion. 30. Of the Virtues, Vices, Cufoms, Manners, and general Diffpofition of Greek Chri- 
VoL. II. 124. 9 r ffians. 
